Cloudcroft Urged to Prepare for a High-Risk Fire Season: Here's What to Know
NMSU Forest and Fire Specialist Dr. Doug Cram delivers strategies to village and mountain residents, Fire Chief Erich Wuersching announces fire mitigation grant available to residents
At a well-attended wildfire preparedness meeting at Cloudcroft Middle School Gym, Dr. Doug Cram, a forest and fire specialist from New Mexico State University, delivered a stark warning: Cloudcroft faces an extreme fire threat this season.
The event drew representatives from the school board and administration, volunteer fire departments, the New Mexico Forestry Department, the Forest Service, and the village council, along with over 75 other community stakeholders wishing to become better-informed neighbors.
Financial Assistance for Village Property Owners
Before the seminar's specifics, some good news for village residents: Cloudcroft VFD Fire Chief Erich Wuersching announced a Hazardous Fuels on Non-Federal Lands (NFL) grant is available to assist residents in reducing fire hazards on their properties. “We have the money in hand,” he said, later confirming that the State officially notified him of the award.
The grant is officially administered through Otero Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Victoria Milne in coordination with Laura Doth, the Executive Director for the South Central Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Council.
Non-federal lands within the Cloudcroft village limits are eligible for the grant. Wuersching says it includes private, commercial, village, State, and school properties and that it will be doled out on a “first-come, first-served basis.”
The Reader spoke with Laura Doth, who filled us in on how the grant works:
“Erich has the forms, so he'll be collecting the applications. And then somebody from either the South Central Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Council, our rural community forester, or someone from New Mexico State Forestry will come and inspect the property and make sure that they qualify for the program, and then once that is done, we will move forward with actually providing contractors to do that thinning.”
“I can pay the contractors directly.”
“The process is they sign up, we send an inspector. If they qualify, then we get them into the program. And some people prefer to hire their own contractors, that's just fine and dandy. Once the work is done, we come back, and we have to make sure that it meets the standards for New Mexico State Forestry. And if they approve, then we can pay.”
According to Doth, applicants are considered by acreage, not a dollar amount:
“That's why we do that pre-inspection. So that they will be able to tell the property owner we can do this much on your property.”
Can structural work be done?
“No. It is fire mitigation via thinning, defensible space around the home and then further up into the property, but it's all based on thinning.”
Residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming FireWise meeting hosted by Cloudcroft VFD on Saturday, March 1, from 9 AM to 3 PM to learn more about wildfire safety and how to access funding for property clean-up.
“This NFL grant is great because it's not a cost share and it's immediately available, but there are also other programs that can be used. So even if people show up and they don't qualify for this program, there are other programs to look at as well,” says Wuersching.
Folks can apply for the program at the upcoming Saturday meeting or email Wuersching at ewuersching@cloudcroftfd.com.
At the February village council meeting, Wuersching announced that Trustee Gail McCoy would help lead Cloudcroft into becoming a FireWise community.
A Growing Wildfire Threat
Back to the “Living with Fire” presentation—Dr. Cram explained that the mean fire interval for the Sacramento Mountains ranges from 6 to 18 years, meaning wildfire is not a matter of "if but when."
He identified four key factors leading to increased wildfire danger: a planet with wildfire functioning as a natural part of forest ecosystems; the buildup of excess fuels due to fire suppression efforts; increased human activity and development in fire-prone areas; and climate changes.
When asked about Cloudcroft's outlook, Cram responded bluntly: "You're surrounded by fuel. This year, it’s not looking good.”
During this dry and warm February, the Forest Service lists the Lincoln National Forest as having a high fire danger rating, an unusual designation during the winter.
The Otero County Electric Cooperative (OCEC) takes measures to mitigate ignition risk by placing powerlines on “one-shot” when needed, meaning if a tree brushes the line, it will trip the power quickly.
“During fire season, when we hit a high fire danger or high winds and red flag days, we put everything we can on one shot. It's going to cause more outages, but it's going to be more fire-safe,” says Lance Wright, who serves as an OCEC employee, school board member, and Assistant Chief at the James Canyon Volunteer Fire Department.
Given dry conditions, high fuel loads, and an increased risk of fast-moving fires, residents were strongly urged to take their own proactive steps to reduce fire hazards.
Here are a few actions you can take to mitigate fire risk on your property.
Harden Homes Against Fire
Residents can "harden" their homes, structures, and properties to improve survival chances in a wildfire:
Roofs & Gutters – Clean debris and consider Class A fire-resistant roofing materials.
Windows & Siding – Install dual-pane windows and non-combustible siding like stucco or fiber cement board.
Decks & Fences – Use ignition-resistant materials and remove flammable objects from underneath decks.
Driveways & Access – Ensure roads are wide enough for fire trucks and clear of overhanging branches.
Experts stress the importance of creating defensible space and outline three zones:
Immediate Zone (0-5 feet from structures)
Use non-flammable landscaping like concrete, pavers, and rock.
Remove all shrubs, trees, and dead vegetation near buildings.
Keep lawns short and green, if possible.
Intermediate Zone (5-30 feet from structures)
Trim trees 15 feet from houses and space them 10-15 feet apart.
Remove "ladder fuels,” the vegetation that allows fire to climb into larger trees.
Relocate wood piles, flammable materials, and propane tanks at least 30 feet from structures.
Extended Zone (30-100 feet from structures)
Thin out trees and shrubs to slow the fire’s progression.
Remove lower tree branches to prevent flames from climbing, called “limbing up” trees.
“Do Not Delay”
In an evacuation, residents should be ready to grab people first. Cram emphasized the danger of waiting too long to evacuate, citing the tragic examples of Paradise, California, where over 100 people died in 2018, and the Hinckley Firestorm of 1894, which resulted in over 400 deaths.
“Fires move faster than you think. If an evacuation is ordered, do not delay,” he implored.
Next, in the “10 P’s” list, bring your phone and prescriptions. Then, pets, your wallet, sentimental objects and family heirlooms, photos, your computer, and important papers.
Folks are encouraged to digitize everything possible to ensure essential information isn’t lost in a fire. This includes government-issued documents, insurance policies, home inventories (for said insurance policies), and irreplaceable photos. Free online storage services such as Google Photos, Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Amazon Photos provide secure backup options.
With wildfire season approaching, taking action now can save homes and lives. Cloudcroft residents and cooperators such as the volunteer fire department, village, schools, law enforcement, utilities and more must work together to protect our community.
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